Mistakenly Marking My Alpha Rival - Chapter 2

At the waiting platform of the Pearl Bay Circuit, staff and racers were bustling about in a state of organized chaos.

 

The tall, lean silhouette of an Alpha strode through the hall. The way he greeted everyone he passed made him look like he was out to charm the entire room. In the words of the Second Team’s coach, as long as this guy didn’t have training or a race scheduled, he was purely there to cause trouble.

 

“I’m here for my meal box.”

 

Hearing that crisp, clean boyish voice, the Omega responsible for distributing meals looked up, and their face instantly flushed.

 

The Alpha smiling at them was Fu Chen. He usually carried a “cool guy” vibe, but when he showed his little canines, he looked like he’d been dipped in sugar. Those slightly curved eyes were bright and sparkling, making him look both beautiful and flirtatious.

 

However, the Omega realized a second too late that Fu Chen only smiled that sweetly when he was picking up food.

 

 

This handsome guy’s stomach was a bottomless pit.

 

Walking down the corridor, Fu Chen carried his meal into the team waiting room. He sat down haphazardly, opened the box, and started inhaling his food without looking up, looking as comfortable as if he were in his own home.

 

The Second Team coach was also sitting inside, watching him the whole time. Recalling the cocky kid he’d seen on the broadcast earlier, he grumbled, “Total attention seeker.”

 

“How was I supposed to know they’d film me,” Fu Chen mumbled while scarfing down his food, “besides, isn’t it good to have me on camera?”

 

The coach, Sun Dongqiang, looked like a “double-door refrigerator” man from a manhwa come to life. He leaned back with his hands crossed over his chest. “Oh, it’s great. Your market value is skyrocketing, and the merchandise store’s revenue is going to hit new heights because of it.”

 

Fu Chen’s smile froze for a moment. He gripped his spoon and poked at the white rice. “Are you really banishing me to the merch store?”

 

“What else?” Sun Dongqiang said with a stern face. “You’re sick right now.”

 

That one sentence shut Fu Chen up completely.

 

He stayed silent for a few seconds, chewing his rice with his cheeks slightly puffed out as if he were deeply indignant. “I still want to continue”

 

“Your physical condition won’t allow you to compete.”

 

Sun Dongqiang’s tone was firm, the same way he had trained Fu Chen over the years, leaving no room for argument. “The commissions from the merch store are enough to cover your living expenses and medical bills. There’s no need to keep arguing with me. I didn’t even want you running over here today.”

 

“Also, I’ve already spoken to your homeroom teacher. You can’t miss any more academic classes. Don’t let me catch you cutting school.”

 

 

When he left the team area, no one knew why Fu Chen’s expression was so sour. After all, he was the kind of guy who would smile even if he was just greeting a dog.

 

With his Gatomon backpack slung over one shoulder, the Alpha teen stormed out of the venue. He walked quickly down the mountain road, his handsome face devoid of expression, hidden in the dim night.

 

“Damn it…”

 

After the failed negotiation, Fu Chen’s pace was inevitably rushed. Even for an Alpha with naturally gifted athletic genes, he was experiencing shortness of breath and a swollen, aching gland. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t normal.

 

Fu Chen felt irritated by this sudden ailment. He pressed a hand against his gland, but the touch only made the burning pain sharper.

 

When he reached the merchandise store two kilometers away and pushed the door open, the clerk who knew him couldn’t help but be startled.

 

“I’m just here to return some clothes and then I’m leaving.”

 

Fu Chen stopped behind the counter and pulled two sets of clean clothes from his bag, each packed in a transparent polybag. He handed them to the blue-haired Omega in the uniform. “I’ll be taking over your shift starting tomorrow.”

 

That habitual smile appeared as if he’d flipped a switch, but without the glimpse of his canines, his cool face made the smile look like nothing more than a social mask, which was actually a bit more intimidating.

 

The blue-haired Omega lowered his voice and said, “Chen-ge, you don’t have to give me that fake smile.”

 

Fu Chen muttered a “talk to you later” before turning to leave. He was moving aggressively, but as he pushed the glass door open, he suddenly checked his movement, and his surging emotions snapped shut.

 

An Alpha outside had almost been hit by the door he swung open.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

There was a hint of panic in Fu Chen’s movements. From his perspective, a soon-to-be employee had almost knocked over a customer. According to the store rules, he could kiss this month’s bonus goodbye.

 

However, Fu Chen’s entire body went rigid. The teenager standing outside the shop looked incredibly familiar, especially when Fu Chen met those deep black eyes. The stranger exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure, carrying an aura like the gloom before a storm.

 

 

Why was it him?

 

Fu Chen was slightly stunned, realizing this was the Alpha the camera had panned to earlier. He didn’t feel physically uncomfortable, but he was completely subdued by the presence of this Alpha of the same age.

 

The two remained in a standoff for two seconds.

 

The other Alpha boy remained silent and stepped back to make way. As Fu Chen carefully pushed the door again and stepped out, his breath hitched slightly. The light hit the other boy’s face, and even his thick eyelashes seemed to catch a glow, creating an indescribable visual impact.

 

This Alpha was genuinely handsome, with a high bridge to his nose and thin lips. A cold, heroic aura rushed toward Fu Chen, a powerful visual strike that made him the most striking guy Fu Chen had ever seen.

 

Not only that, the Alpha was tall with broad shoulders, wearing a crisp dark shirt and jeans. He carried a “Hong Kong film” vibe, giving off an air of someone born into wealth.

 

Fu Chen had no idea how long his gaze had been lingering on the guy’s face.

 

He thought to himself…

 

I’m about to scare off a high-value customer, aren’t I?

 

At the same time.

 

Dai Siyun stood slightly to the side. He looked up seemingly at random, his gaze passing over the Alpha’s reddish hair to see the racing models, trendy clothes, and the themed cafe on the second floor of the shop. Then, he brought his gaze back down to the hand the boy had on the door handle.

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Dai Siyun seemed to be responding, yet also declining, as he said, “I’m not going in.”

 

Fu Chen, the prospective part-timer, “…”

 

“Okay.”

 

The sky had long since turned dark. Only a single streetlight stood in the open space outside, flickering due to a poor connection. The flashing light gave the sightseeing bus stop sign outside the shop an eerie feeling.

 

The roaring cheers from the race could be heard in the distance, but they were effectively muffled by the distance. This made the silence between the two boys standing near the sign feel deafening. It was difficult to ignore the presence of the person next to them.

 

Fu Chen offered the friendliness typical of someone his age. “The bus down to the lower racing district comes every ten minutes. It should be here soon.”

 

Dai Siyun’s tone was cold. “Thanks.”

 

Fu Chen: “…”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

The atmosphere was strangely awkward.

 

Fu Chen figured he was overthinking it. He pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and opened the payment code for the bus in advance. It was an old model with a cracked screen in the bottom left corner, but he’d managed to make it last this long.

 

Under normal circumstances.

 

Fu Chen wouldn’t be stingy with his words. He’d explain the process of getting a card or scanning the code to someone his age, especially since he was essentially a staff member. His team had a contract with the racing district.

 

For instance, he would be working part-time at this merch store. Without race prize money, his future living expenses would depend entirely on his base salary and commissions from selling merch.

 

Everything in life tended to influence everything else. Ever since that strange illness flared up for the first time, there was a high chance his life would never return to the way it was. Fu Chen’s bad mood was tied to this realization.

 

Lost in thought.

 

Fu Chen didn’t notice that the pain in the gland on the back of his neck had eased up. The sightseeing bus had already pulled up in front of them. It wasn’t until the other Alpha stepped forward, his tall frame blocking the light from the streetlamp, that Fu Chen snapped out of it.

 

He’s so tall.

 

And… really handsome.

 

Even as an Alpha himself, Fu Chen had to tilt his head slightly to see the perfectly placed mole on the tip of the other boy’s nose. This was the first time another Alpha’s appearance had made him feel so envious.

 

The moment he stepped forward to follow, Fu Chen caught a very pleasant scent. His body stiffened, but he couldn’t quite identify what the smell was. It was as if his sense of taste and smell had malfunctioned, leaving him unable to figure it out.

 

 

Could it be this guy’s scent?

 

Fu Chen swallowed hard, feeling shocked. It seemed the doctor was right; this illness of his was twisted. He never expected that he’d find a fellow Alpha smelling “delicious” while just walking down the street.

 

Buzz.

 

The phone vibrated in his palm. Fu Chen swiped his card, took a seat near the driver, and unhurriedly answered the call.

 

As luck would have it.

 

Dai Siyun sat two rows behind him, taking everything in. Light leaked from the cracked corner of the phone screen in colorful patches, but it wasn’t as eye-catching as the name on the caller ID.

 

Zhu Yingting.

 

As those three characters entered his vision, Dai Siyun’s expression remained blank. The early autumn night wind brushed against his shirt sleeves, making a soft fluttering sound that entered his ears along with the voice of the Alpha boy whose back was turned to him.

 

“I’m on my way back.”

 

“Yeah, I returned the clothes, the set the team had me wear for the promo photos last time.”

 

“You want a late-night snack?”

 

“Okay…”

 

“Let me think about what to bring you.”

 

The boy’s voice was clean and pleasant, with a submissive edge to it, like he was coaxing someone. It really did sound like someone in the middle of a “situationship.”

 

His own phone received a message.

 

Dai Siyun rubbed his temples and tapped it. As soon as he saw Xing Xun’s profile picture, he could automatically hear the guy’s tone: [Did you see him?]

 

D: [Yeah.]

 

XUN: [Uh, that kid didn’t just miss today’s race, he hasn’t been on the track much lately. Is he seriously so lovestruck that he’s throwing away the career he built on skipping class?]

 

Under the dim light, Dai Siyun glanced over. The Alpha’s reddish-brown hair looked low-profile. With his eyes downcast, the boy’s face looked almost obedient as he spoke softly on the phone.

 

D: [Maybe.]

 

XUN: […………]

 

XUN: [Turns out this kid is the type to go dig for wild vegetables on a mountain for love.]

 

XUN: [If he knew his love rival was lurking right behind him and the rich Omega he’s got was about to slip away, wouldn’t he go hide somewhere and cry?]

 

D: […]

 

D: [I can’t imagine it.]

 

XUN: [Huh?]

 

Dai Siyun didn’t reply again. He looked straight ahead at the boy’s straight back and cold profile. A stud glittered on his slightly reddish earlobe. The cold material emitted a faint spark, just like his personality, hot on the outside but cold on the inside.

 

He didn’t look like an Alpha who would cry. On the contrary, he looked more like the type of guy who would make an Omega cry.

 

“The left doors will open”

 

The private car parking area had arrived. Dai Siyun stood up and headed for the rear door. Unknowingly, Fu Chen was drawn by the heavy footsteps and turned his head to look back.

 

The handsome, tall Alpha boy was getting off.

 

Fu Chen realized he was paying a bit too much attention. He heard the soft voice of the Omega on the call, which sounded a bit muffled by the rushing wind. “Is your pheromone disorder any better?”

 

Hearing Zhu Yingting’s question, a subtle sensation bloomed late, hitting his heart. The soothing warmth coming from the gland on his neck became increasingly obvious.

 

Fu Chen’s lips parted slightly. His gaze stayed fixed on the Alpha’s receding back as he let out a breath. “I…”

 

“I think it’s a bit better.”